Why That Salad Costs More than a Big Mac

A new report shows that the great American waistline continues to expand. In 1991, not a single state had an obesity rate above 20 percent, but now the rate tops 30 percent in eight states. A graphic discussed on a number of blogs may explain at least part of the reason: Government subsidies help ensure that healthy food tends to cost more than meals that pack on pounds. This chart was originally created by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in 2007. Unfortunately, the group says, not much has changed.